Analyzing the results of the Lions-Vikings draft trade

Now that the full results of the Detroit Lions-Minnesota Vikings draft trade are in, how does the deal look for the Lions?

After taking Aidan Hutchinson with the second overall pick Thursday night, the Detroit Lions made an aggressive move up from No. 32 to No. 12 in order to get wide receiver Jameson Williams. They gave up picks 32, 34 and 66 in the deal, and also go pick 46 from Minnesota.

As of early in the third round Friday night, as the Vikings didn’t move off of pick No. 66, the full results of the trade were in. Minnesota did move down from No. 34, in a trade with another division rival in the Green Bay Packers, acquiring No. 53 and No. 59. Then they moved up from 53, acquiring No. 42 from the Indianapolis Colts.

Did the Lions still win the trade with the Vikings?

Based strictly on some generally accepted standards for draft pick value, the Lions won the trade with the Vikings. It’s easy to get caught up in all the combinations the Lions could have gone with at No. 32 and 34 if they’d had those picks, but here’s the bottom line after the other deals the Vikings made with the picks they got in the deal.

Lions get: WR Jameson Williams (No. 12), DE Josh Paschal (No. 46)
Vikings get: S Lewis Cine (No. 32), CB Andrew Booth (No. 42). LB Brian Asamoah (No. 66)
Packers get: WR Christian Watson (No. 34)
Colts get: WR Alec Pierce (No. 53)

At a glance, it sure looks like the Lions got two of the top five players listed above if you ranked them out. Then again, so did the Vikings and also got a linebacker the Lions had in for a top-30 visit in Asamoah.

Ultimately, the proof will be in the pudding when we see what these players become in the NFL. But the aggressive mentality from Lions general manager Brad Holmes to go get Williams is to be noted and admired.